[SOLVED] Is there firmware for routers?
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I glanced through forum topics trying to find the answer to my question; however, I'm finding a lot of dead links. My question is: Can I put pfsense on a wireless router (Linksys, Netgear, etc.) and make it work? Has there been any recent ports to allow pfsense to run on such routers? Am I correct in saying that most residential routers use MIPS processors; if so, is that why it's not common (or impossible) to get pfsense on such routers? Does Cisco have anything that allows pfsense to be flashed on to it? For whatever reason, I think I remember seeing some sort of guide explaining how to flash pfsense onto some sort of Cisco device (not sure if it was branded as a Linksys or just Cisco). I'd really appreciate any insight.
Edit:
Found a device on ebay. The seller claims that it has pfsense on it:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cisco-Telepresence-8-Port-Gigabit-Rackmount-Router-w-pfSense-64-Bit-Software-/371531715115?hash=item568104122b:g:cPwAAOSwX~dWlqfO -
The short answer:
If the device runs an x86 processor, then - maybe.
There are many possibilities, successes, and failures on the forums.
They can be found with a little searching.If not, no you can't load pfSense, it's based on x86 FreeBSD only.
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Thanks for your reply. From what I'm understanding, should I be looking for routers that can handle freebsd? I found a Cisco device on ebay; the seller claims that it has pfsense on it. I'll edit my original post to include the link.
Edit: The CPU on the Cisco router is a Intel E7400, what you said is making sense. I just remember seeing a picture of a Cisco device very similar to this, and there was a guide of how to flash pfsense onto it: http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2315791
Regardless, thanks for your help. -
What do you want to do, what's your goal?
Use any old i368 or better amd64 compatible hardware with 2 or more NICs and install pfSense onto it.
That's the easiest way to get it up and running without much fiddling (except for buying an appliance from store.pfsense.org).Your SOHO routers / APs pretty sure won't work. Don't take a complicated or impossible path for no reason.
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My question is: Can I put pfsense on a wireless router (Linksys, Netgear, etc.) and make it work?
This routers will often based on Broadcom or MIPS CPUs and that wouldn´t work. pfSense is a software firewall
based on x86 architecture, if a hardware basis will be based on x86 also, you could be having a chance or luck
to realize it, but not on other architectures.Has there been any recent ports to allow pfsense to run on such routers?
No with out a fork or port that offers a ported version of the pfSense software it will not happen.
Am I correct in saying that most residential routers use MIPS processors;
Yes, for sure they do and also Broadcom, MIPSBE, PPC or ARM CPUs are really often to find.
if so, is that why it's not common (or impossible) to get pfsense on such routers?
Each architecture needs his code made for the entire CPU or hardware architecture.
Does Cisco have anything that allows pfsense to be flashed on to it?
It must be a x86 or x86_64 based architecture inside of this device! Others are not supported and it is not
really important what brand is set on the outside of the unit or device, either Nokia IP290 and above series,
Watchguard or others based on x86 architecture will be able to run pfSense.For whatever reason, I think I remember seeing some sort of guide explaining how to flash pfsense onto some sort of Cisco device (not sure if it was branded as a Linksys or just Cisco). I'd really appreciate any insight.
Again, it must be a x86 hardware architecture inside, otherwise it will not working.
Edit:
Found a device on ebay. The seller claims that it has pfsense on it:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cisco-Telepresence-8-Port-Gigabit-Rackmount-Router-w-pfSense-64-Bit-Software-/371531715115?hash=item568104122b:g:cPwAAOSwX~dWlqfOIt is based on an Intel Core Duo so it is based on the x86 hardware architecture and it might be running
pfSense like a charm, but also x86 hardware often runs pfSense not even smooth and liquid because of
the incompatibilities of the BIOS, other unsupported hardware inside of the units and so on. -
There's a few reasons I'm trying to just buy Cisco routers (I say Cisco now because I'm fairly confident that Linksys doesn't have any x86 based CPUs in their router selection). My first reason is used Cisco equipment is fairly cheap. my second reason is that Cisco is reliable (however, this may not be much of an argument, because that reliability would vary if I were to flash pfsense onto such a router). My third reason is that I'm running out of space in my garage to put all my networking gear. I know I could buy a used microatx or mini-itx PC, but I'm thinking that the price would be around the same as the used Cisco router that I think exists (I'm not sure the model, and still can't find it on Google). I see BlueKobold replied before I posted my comment; it seems that the Cisco router on ebay could be a hit or miss. My question is: how do I know what is stable or unstable? Would amd64 architecture be more stable, or am I not understanding correctly?
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https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=84679.0
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Thank you all so much for your help. I'm just going to build a small PC and put pfsense on it (I'm still curious how much that small Cisco router costs that I can't seem to find anywhere on the Internet).
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I see BlueKobold replied before I posted my comment; it seems that the Cisco router on ebay could be a hit or miss.
Could be even, what should I tell you now if the CPU and some other things are supported but the NICs
aren´t supported by pfSense? And then? Spending $199 + $48 shipping fee and you came on something
like nearly $250 and if you are outside of the USA once more on top ~$57!!! And then it is nearly ~$310Jetway N2930 would be more my favorite.
This item:Jetway NF9HG-2930 Thin mini-ITX Network Motherboard $204.00
Sabrent AD-LCD12 LCD Monitors 12V 6A 72W AC Adapter Power Supply $8.80
Premier Pro SP310 SATA 6Gb/s mSATA Solid State Drive ASP310S3-32GM-C $28.99
Crucial 8GB Kit (4GBx2) DDR3 1600 MT/s (PC3 - 12800) CL11 SODIMM $37.98
M350 Universal Mini-ITX PC enclosure PicoPSU compatible; $38.95
Total = ~$330100% pfSense compatible, fan less, well supported Intel Ports, 64Bit and ready to build a full UTM device.
